Iceland lesbian PM wins sweeping victory

[ccharles000]

http://www.365gay.com/news/iceland-lesbian-pm-wins-sweeping-victory/

(Reykjavik) Iceland’s left-of-center coalition, led by out lesbian interim Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, has won a stunning victory marking the first time an openly gay politician has been elected leader of the tiny country.

The Social Democratic Alliance and the Left Green Movement won 34 out of the 63 seats in Parliament in weekend voting. It was a crushing defeat for the pro-business Independence Party that many blamed for the collapse of the country’s banking system.

Sigurdardottir and her coalition came to power with an interim government following the collapse of the Independence Party in February.

Iceland was particularly hard hit by the global credit crunch.

Former Prime Minister Haarde nationalized banks and negotiated about $10 billion in bailout loans from the IMF and individual countries. But his government came under sharp criticism for failing to adequately oversee Iceland’s banking system and protect the once-prosperous nation of 320,000 people.

Iceland’s banks collapsed last year with huge debts amassed during years of rapid expansion. Unemployment and inflation have spiraled and the IMF predicts that Iceland’s economy will shrink by about 10 percent in 2009, which would be its biggest slump since Iceland won full independence from Denmark in 1944.

[indigo32]

1. wow

thats really cool!

[bushisanidiot]

2. Outstanding!!

What a great day for gay people. Gay Iowans are marrying as we speak today as well. :)

[TheCoxwain]

3. Barnie Frank for President in 2016.....

[qb]

4. That is a sweet victory.

I wish Iceland & PM Sigurdardottir the best of luck.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Great!

And hoping she can turn the economy around there; it needs it badly.

[Still Sensible]

6. That is great news, but getting only 34 out of 63 seats

when the opposition is responsible for a financial collapse that, relatively speaking, is more disastrous than almost any other country in the world... doesn't seem like enough. Nevertheless, hearty congratulations to the Prime Minister.

[dsc]

7. Is this a first?

I have never heard of an elected gay or lesbian chief executive. Amazing.

[ccharles000]

8. I don't know